Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 14:24     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the disdain for D2s?

The D2 schools in our area are roughly $25k a year (including tuition, room/board, etc.).

The closest D1 is ~$65k.

The largest and successful D3 nearby is ~$55k. The smaller less successful D3 programs are all over $70k. There are a few, public adjacent D3s in the area that are in the $30-40k range.

For a player that is able to play at any of those level, why exclude schools that are $30k per year cheaper? Is having a "big name" on the diploma really worth $120k or more extra over 4 years?

Yes, I know the sticker price isn't the final price. I'm just using the sticker price for ease of comparison.


There's no disdain for D2. They aren't around the DMV area. also, to the person that said in 2028, college soccer will be year round, that's probably only the p4 of mens soccer. I doubt they will roll it out for womens any time soon.


I doubt it’ll happen at all. If college soccer becomes year round, what about other sports? Baseball? Hockey? Swimming?
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 14:19     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:I don't get the disdain for D2s?

The D2 schools in our area are roughly $25k a year (including tuition, room/board, etc.).

The closest D1 is ~$65k.

The largest and successful D3 nearby is ~$55k. The smaller less successful D3 programs are all over $70k. There are a few, public adjacent D3s in the area that are in the $30-40k range.

For a player that is able to play at any of those level, why exclude schools that are $30k per year cheaper? Is having a "big name" on the diploma really worth $120k or more extra over 4 years?

Yes, I know the sticker price isn't the final price. I'm just using the sticker price for ease of comparison.


There's no disdain for D2. They aren't around the DMV area. also, to the person that said in 2028, college soccer will be year round, that's probably only the p4 of mens soccer. I doubt they will roll it out for womens any time soon.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 14:15     Subject: D1 v D3
College soccer will be year round by 2028. So your 2 games a week thing doesn’t matter. Also, teams will be rearranged out of conference and additional programs may be added. Competing with foreigners still up in the air but hopefully NCAA does something about it.

People need to stay calling out how bad some of the college coaches are. There are many teams that have upperclassmen from Europe and South America in their rosters and have .500 win pct. How bad of a coach are you if you can’t win games when all of your starters are from over seas and you can’t beat anyone.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 14:11     Subject: D1 v D3
I don't get the disdain for D2s?

The D2 schools in our area are roughly $25k a year (including tuition, room/board, etc.).

The closest D1 is ~$65k.

The largest and successful D3 nearby is ~$55k. The smaller less successful D3 programs are all over $70k. There are a few, public adjacent D3s in the area that are in the $30-40k range.

For a player that is able to play at any of those level, why exclude schools that are $30k per year cheaper? Is having a "big name" on the diploma really worth $120k or more extra over 4 years?

Yes, I know the sticker price isn't the final price. I'm just using the sticker price for ease of comparison.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 14:03     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:Would you rather have your child play D1 at ODU or D3 at Amherst


In these modern times when Influencers and Content Creators are making millions while D3 grads are stuck to a desk working 8-7 making $90K with 7 days paid vacation and crappy health insurance, what difference does it really make
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:57     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:Would you rather have your child play D1 at ODU or D3 at Amherst


Exactly . That’s what I meant.
A rich kid turned down Williams for a school that I’ve never heard of to study business. Why? If you are that much into becoming a pro, put college on hold, go to Europe.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:51     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:Would you rather have your child play D1 at ODU or D3 at Amherst


Depends on whether my kid gets into Amherst, but that won't come until well after the kid has committed to ODU. Also, depends on cost, size of school, location, and major. The reality is that for any undergraduate degree, the school doesn't really matter.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:48     Subject: D1 v D3
Would you rather have your child play D1 at ODU or D3 at Amherst
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:46     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.


No bench players at D3 schools?
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:45     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.


So the kids at a D1 not playing soccer has less chances and opportunities for personal success in life than a kid not playing soccer at a D3?


We are comparing lower academic D1 with good academic D3. I’d always choose the latter, but I felt like an outlier in this area. I don’t think scholarship is the reason here, as families can’t afford college won’t be able to afford years of club soccer of all brands.


What exactly is a lower academic D1?
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:25     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.


The high academic d3 are around 90k for one year (New England Schools). They are extremely expensive for an undergraduate degree, and if you're not super smart, then the chance of you getting financial assistance as well as getting in is slim. Also, there are D1s that are not cutthroat. Look at the non-P4 conferences, and you'll find a good balance of academics, soccer, and financial assistance.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:24     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.


So the kids at a D1 not playing soccer has less chances and opportunities for personal success in life than a kid not playing soccer at a D3?


We are comparing lower academic D1 with good academic D3. I’d always choose the latter, but I felt like an outlier in this area. I don’t think scholarship is the reason here, as families can’t afford college won’t be able to afford years of club soccer of all brands.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:18     Subject: D1 v D3
Anonymous wrote:So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.


So the kids at a D1 not playing soccer has less chances and opportunities for personal success in life than a kid not playing soccer at a D3?
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 13:08     Subject: D1 v D3
Agreed. I’d much prefer my DD go to a top D3 than a bad D1. And the academically good D1 schools are very hard to play soccer at unless you’re national team level or nearly. But there’s this ethos around D1 — teammates, coaches — that the kids start buying into.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 12:58     Subject: D1 v D3
So many kids (and parents) are head over heels on getting that D1 ticket. But even if they get in a D1, they are only getting bench time, threatened to be cut, twice a week games and travel, and 3 months of game season in a year. Even if they survived that horrible situation and “played” 4 years, they have maybe 1% of chance turning pro.

Instead, if they put academic first and choose the best learning environment over the division number, they could have a balanced college experience and end up in a much better place with many more choices 4 years later.

I don’t get it if the parents can afford college but let the kid choose a never heard of D1 or D2 over a prestigious D3.